A Journey of the Heart: A True Story by the Martyr Ismail Dirani (ra)

An adapted literary rendering of the original account by @BasiraPress

My longing to visit the Anis al-Nufus—the solace of souls—my master and Imam, Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him), had taken complete possession of my heart and being.

I was a lover consumed by devotion to the Household of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon them all).

I knew that Allah alone is the One who grants success and to Him belongs all reliance in the fulfillment of every need.

So I continued to pray, asking Him to grant me the honor of that journey.

There is a feeling that overtakes the believer when he finds himself in the presence of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them)—a feeling so profound that one wishes time itself would come to a standstill.

One wishes that all his wealth might end at that very moment, that he might remain there forever, dwelling beside the infallible Imam, serving the dust beneath his blessed feet.

But alas, how far such moments seem to us!

And yet, deep within the soul, there remains an unwavering certainty: Allah will never abandon a servant who sincerely strives to attain His pleasure. How could the heart despair when its Lord has said:
“Call upon Me; I will answer you.”
—Qur’an 40:60

The soul senses what lies beyond the visible world and believes in the unseen.

It yearns with an aching love for the meeting with its master and lord, the Master of the Age, Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his noble reappearance).

That longing does not remain merely a feeling within the heart; it pushes the body toward righteous deeds, carries me toward obedience, and urges me to persevere in both obligatory and recommended acts of worship.

Every day, my soul renewed its covenant, its pledge, and its allegiance to its absent-yet-ever-present Imam.

One morning, I renewed that covenant once again as I recited Dua al-Ahd—the Supplication of the Covenant to Imam al-Mahdi.

My wife was beside me, following the supplication and praying along with me.

Then, for a few moments, my voice suddenly fell silent.

Afterward, I continued reciting, but something within me had changed. I was filled with a strange gladness, as though I had received a promise of something beautiful—something my heart had long awaited.

My wife sensed that something unusual had happened.

And indeed, Allah had answered my prayer.

As I was reciting Dua al-Ahd, renewing my covenant, my pledge, and my allegiance—yes, while fully awake—my master, Imam al-Mahdi, appeared before me.

He opened a cabinet in my home. Then his hand moved toward me, offering me a small piece of paper.

At first, I did not even notice it!

My entire attention was fixed upon the face of my master, the Master of the Age.

Every fiber of my being trembled with joy. I wished only that he would not leave me, that those moments would never end.

He greeted me.

With a smile filled with tenderness and compassion, and with a love that seemed to encompass everything, he said:

“Please, take it.”

I took the small object from his hand while my eyes remained fixed upon him. I drank in tranquility from the radiant light of his countenance.

My limbs, my heart, and my very soul surrendered before the majesty of his presence.

I remember thinking:

O Allah, do not take these moments away from me. Stop time. Let me remain here—his companion, his servant, forever.

He was wearing a black turban and the robes of a religious scholar. His features were clear and unmistakable—beautiful, luminous, and breathtaking.

His face shone with a light like the full moon in its perfection and fullness.

His beard was somewhat long, touched generously with gray. He was of medium height.

And, by Allah, how beautiful he was.

Then I remembered the small piece of paper he had placed in my hand.

It resembled an airline ticket.

At the bottom of it was a brown line.

And at that moment, I understood.

I would visit my master, Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him).

But how?

I did not know.

Yet something within me was certain: